Member's Press Release

Release Date: 02/28/2016
Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 590-4678

President Cole

This Week in the West Virginia Senate

CHARLESTON – Regulatory reform was featured this week as the Senate passed the 2016 Regulatory Reform Act. The bill, which creates the Small Business Regulatory Relief Act, incorporates numerous changes to West Virginia’s rulemaking processes, including:

Requiring agencies to respond to public comment during the rulemaking process;

Requiring additional information to be included when an agency submits proposed legislation to the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, including an economic impact statement, detailed description of the rule’s purpose, and public comments received.

The bill is the culmination of extensive regulatory reform efforts from earlier in the session. Last month, the Senate Judiciary passed eight Originating Bills that targeted more than 120 outdated or obsolete rules from West Virginia’s State Register.

The bill passed 18-16 on Saturday, February 27. It is pending introduction in the House of Delegates.

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Sunday, the 47th day of the legislative session, was the last day for a bill to be passed out of a committee in its house of origin to allow for three full days of readings. Wednesday, March 2, is what’s known as “crossover day.” This is the day all bills must be passed out of its house of origin, excluding supplemental appropriations bills or the budget.

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By the Numbers (through February 28)
Number of Senate bills introduced: 699
Number of Senate bills passed: 170
Number of House bills passed out of Senate: 14
Number of bills that have completed legislative action: 34
Number of bills signed by Governor: 14
Number of bills vetoed by Governor: 3
Number of Legislative overrides: 2 (Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 4005)
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The West Virginia Senate passed 42 Senate bills this week, 5 House bills, and advanced several others through committee.

Creates a program, administered by the Director of the Division of Justice and Community Services to allow a person to obtain a stay of a driver’s license suspension or revocation for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining employment, if certain conditions are met

Pending introduction in the House of Delegates

Passed: House Bill 4145 – Relating to carry or use of a handgun or deadly weapon

Would change the experience requirements for members and reduce the number of members of the Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board

Proposes taking number of members from 10 to 8, and would include someone who represents the interests of education employees (and is a teacher), public employees, retired employees, a participating political subdivision, and four members from the public at large (each with experience-specific requirements)

Bill is on First Reading on Monday
Senate Bill 700 – Authorizing Berkeley County Council own or operate a drug treatment of drug rehabilitation facility

Authorizes Berkeley County Council to own or operate a drug treatment or drug rehabilitation facility within the city limits of the City of Martinsburg on the site of the former Royce Hosiery, which the county purchased in 2015 for $250,000

Bill is on Third Reading on Monday
House Bill 4228 – Relating to transportation network companies

Allows transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate in West Virginia, and provides guidelines for their operations

Proposes taking number of members from 10 to 8, and would include someone who represents the interests of education employees (and is a teacher), public employees, retired employees, a participating political subdivision, and four members from the public at large (each with experience-specific requirements)